How to Earn Contact Hours

Things to remember:

  • A contact hour is equal to one hour of time. This is not the same as traditional continuing education units (CEUs), which typically equal ten hours of participation.  

  • The table below assumes one hour spent in the activity equals one contact hour unless otherwise stated.

  • Recertification activities must be related to research administration (RA).

  • Activities performed as an expected part of your regular job duties cannot be counted as contact hours.

  • Documentation of all contact hours must be available for verification purposes. Please note that we will only accept post-live viewings for contact hour credit if they are accompanied by verifying documentation.

Current certificants: Click here to learn how to track your contact hours 


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ACTIVITY


CONTACT HOURS AWARDED


MAX HOURS PERMITTED FOR THIS ACTIVITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 
Participate in RA-related professional development meetings, programs, courses, or activities, including, but not limited to:

Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) national, section, and chapter meetings

National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) national, regional, and specialty meetings

Public Responsibility in Medicine & Research (PRIM&R)

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

National Science Foundation (NSF)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One contact hour for every hour in an educational session

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No maximum: all hours may be claimed

 

 

2

Prepare and present (solely or jointly) 60-90 minute presentation on RA-related topics at a professional organization meeting or in a webinar 

One contact hour per hour of presentation time; Two contact hours per hour (up to three contact hours) for development

No Maximum

 

 

3

Prepare and present (solely or jointly) a half-day presentation on RA-related topics at a professional organization meeting or in a webinar

One contact hour per hour of presentation time; Two contact hours per hour (up to eight contact hours) for development

No Maximum

 

 

4

Prepare and present (solely or jointly) a full-day presentation on RA-related topics at a professional organization meeting or in a webinar

One contact hour per hour of presentation time; Two contact hours per hour (up to 16 contact hours) for development

No Maximum

 

5

Prepare and present on RA-related topics on your campus (including for-credit courses)

One contact hour for presentation time; One and a half contact hours for development

No Maximum

 

6

Write a RA-related article for publication or prepare and submit an abstract, paper or poster to a professional organization

Five contact hours for a newsletter article; 10 contact hours for a journal article

No Maximum

 

7

Serve as a PI or Co-PI on a grant

One contact hour for every hour serving as a PI or Co-PI

Maximum of 10 contact hours per year


8

Attend a RA-related webinar or online course (live or post-live) *

One contact hour for each hour of participation

No maximum


9

Serve on a RA-related review committee

One contact hour for each hour of service

Maximum of five contact hours per year


10

Serve on or assist with a RACC committee

One contact hour for every hour of service

No maximum


11

Serve on a professional research organization’s committee or board

One contact hour for every hour of service

Maximum of five contact hours per year



12

Prepare a written program review of a research administration operation external to your institution 

One contact hour for every hour of service

Maximum of 10 contact hours per year


13

Participate in a site visit or program review external to your institution 

One contact hour for every hour of service

Maximum of five contact hours per year

 

14

Attend classes or complete a graduate-level certification program in research administration 

Three contact hours for each credit hour for the class

No maximum

 

15

Participate in institution-wide committee on research administration related topic at your institution

One contact hour for every hour of service

Maximum of three contact hours per year

 

* For live viewings that do not provide “certificates of attendance,” please provide proof of registration and/or participation. This could be in the form of the original email from the training sponsor with the viewing link you received upon registration. For post-live viewings (previously recorded webinars, on-demand virtual seminars, etc.) please provide documentation of the viewer's name, title of the post-live viewing, date it was viewed, and the length of the viewing. If viewing as part of a group, official departmental attendance confirmation with the above-listed details is acceptable. If viewing as an individual, official attendance confirmation from your supervisor with the above-listed details is acceptable.